Executive director jobs in Farringdon, greater london
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English Heritage are seeking an outstanding Chief Executive Officer to lead the charity, which cares for over a million objects and hundreds of historic sites in every part of England. We care for the bridges and bronzes, gardens and gargoyles, stone circles and secret bunkers and everything in between. We are the only charity in the world which looks after a National Collection from our own earned income.
Our mission focuses on creating inspiring visitor experiences, preserving historic sites and collections for future generations and connecting people to places.
We have a world-class portfolio of heritage assets, diversified funding and a successful operating model and are supported by our hardworking employees, the generosity of our volunteers, a loyal membership of 1.2 million people, as well as donors and supporters.
The Board of Trustees, chaired by Tony Hales CBE, is seeking candidates for the role of Chief Executive Officer to join English Heritage and lead the organisation into its next chapter.
You will work with the Board and senior leadership team to ensure English Heritage delivers on its charitable objectives, including conservation, public benefit and financial security.
You will bring a strong track record of leading large, complex organisations operating across multiple sites and engaging diverse stakeholders. You will be able to demonstrate how you develop incisive strategies and then translate them into successful delivery. A collaborative team player, you lead with integrity and inclusivity, balancing the sensitivity required for managing conservation sites with the drive needed to attract income. An understanding of the value volunteers bring would be advantageous.
If you think you have the vision, skills and experience to take on such a fantastic opportunity, we’d love to hear from you. Please select the Apply button shown to be taken to our website, where you can submit your application.
The Sentencing Academy, established in 2019, has made significant strides in advocating for effective sentencing practices and enhancing the understanding of sentencing among professionals and the public. We are now looking for a visionary leader to join us as the Chief Executive Officer (CEO). This pivotal role will oversee the strategic direction of the charity, strengthening future sustainability and marking a new chapter in its mission to promote evidenced-based approaches to sentencing to help reduce re-offending, provide justice to victims and improve public confidence.
About the Role
This key position offers the chance to shape and develop the future of the Sentencing Academy and its commitment to enhancing sentencing practices and research in England and Wales. It is a leadership opportunity that involves executing a strategic plan that supports the charity's longevity. It is a role that not only focuses on organisational growth and influence but also emphasises the importance of operational compliance, financial health, and fostering strong relationships with key stakeholders and partners. The budget for 2026/27 is fully funded but there is a need to significantly widen the organisation’s funding base to ensure its sustainability beyond the current financial year.
About You
We are seeking a passionate, and experienced leader with a proven track record in the non-profit sector to join our team as CEO. You will have excellent communication and interpersonal skills, with an interest in sentencing and the wider criminal justice system. Your background will include strategic planning, governance, and financial management, with a strong ability to secure funding through grants and partnerships.
You will inspire and lead a diverse team, with expertise to build and maintain strong relationships, and represent our organisation in public forums and the media. As a forward-thinking leader you will demonstrate strong analytical problem-solving skills, and the ability to make sound decisions under pressure.
What We Offer
The post is offered on a 0.5 to 0.8 FTE basis (18.75 to 30 hours per week) on a permanent basis. An attractive package is offered alongside flexible hybrid working arrangements. The Sentencing Academy is currently a remote organisation although attendance at regular meetings in London will be essential. The salary for this post is £70,000 pro rata.
If you want to join the charity at this exciting period of its development and have the skills and experience we are looking for then please send us a copy of your CV and supporting statement (no more than two A4 pages) showing how you meet the criteria for this post and what you would bring to this role Closing date is 12th June 2026 at 5pm. Please tell us if there are any reasonable adjustments we can make to assist you in your application. Should you have any queries or questions about this position please contact Jon Bild (see supporting documents for contact details).
Claudia Jones organisation (CJO) Is looking to appoint a highly skilled Executive Director with experience of working in the Voluntary/Community sector to support the development of the organisation. This is a key appointment funded for 1year.
CJO is one of the few small Black lead charities in London, enhancing the quality of life for African Caribbean Women and Families. Founded in 1982 at the request of Caribbean women, CJO delivers family-centred services for women with children 0-16yrs, Gender- based violence support, connections for older people, health and wellbeing activities, counselling and therapeutic interventions to inspire and empower African Caribbean heritage women and families.
Reporting to the board of directors/trustees, the Executive Director will oversee the strategic and operational efficiencies of our programmes and staff. This experienced leader will not only understand the working of the voluntary/community sector but also have experience in developing and implementing a successful fundraising plan. Experience of hiring and managing staff is essential and establishing relationships with local community groups is a plus. Most importantly, the Executive Director should be highly effective in a Leadership role that requires clear communication skills and decisiveness. It is important that the post holder embraces our community -based broader philosophy of investment in our community.
Note: Considering the nature of work and focus of the Claudia Jones Organisation, the organisation considers the candidate’s race and gender, to be an occupational requirement in accordance with Paragraph 1, Schedule 9, of the Equality Act 2010. Black and ‘Minority Ethnic’ Women only need apply (Schedule 9, Part 1, 158 and 159 Equality Act 2010). We are an Equal Opportunities employer
Objectives of this role
- Support the development and cultivation of an active and engaged Board of trustees, standing and advisory committees
- Work closely with the Board/Trustees and committees to assess and address issues affecting the organisation
- Identify, engage leverage and cultivate community resources, influence and connections to further the initiatives and mission of the organisation
- Oversee daily operations of the organisation, providing executive direction for programmes, strategies and efficiencies, compliance and quality assurance
- Identify and address staffing requirements for efficient operations, and maintain a strong work culture that attracts and retains people while driving the organisation’s mission
- Increase awareness of the organisation by being the main spoke person of the charity for external communication, both verbally and written
- Develop capital and operating budgets for assigned programmes, planning for short and long-term program needs
- Comply with all national and local regulations
Responsibilities
- Create business plans to achieve goals and objectives and presenting to the board/trustees for approval
- Meet annual fundraising goals in partnership with colleagues/staff team to obtain financial support from grant giving organisations, foundations, statutory organisations, cooperations and other funding sources
- Work with Staff and Board/trustees on other annual community initiatives, programmes and all external communications, including website, newsletters, promotional materials including the media
- Serve as the face of the organisation and participate in external events to increase visibility, credibility and market brand, and develop strategic partnership to further increase community awareness and expand programmes
- Build and lead an effective team that’s dedicated to fulfilling the organisation’s mission through highly successful programmes, community engagement and fundraising
- Manage staff members, volunteers and clients whose experience, cultures and languages reflect the community served by the organisation
Required Skills and Qualification
- Five or more years of experience in senior management preferably with a Charity
- Strong experience in public relations, marketing and fundraising
- Knowledge of leadership and management principles for voluntary/community sector
- Proven success working with a board of directors/trustees
- Innovative approach to business planning
- Dynamic and charismatic team player who enjoys being the public face of the organisation
Preferred Skills and qualifications
- Degree (or equivalent) in business, human resources or finance
- Experience in managing budgets
- Exceptional verbal, written and visual communication skills
- Experience in community engagement and volunteer development
- Experience in working in a cross functional and complex reporting environment
JOB SPECIFICATION
Essential
- At least 5 years relevant experience of managing a charitable organisation.
- Demonstrable senior leadership and strategic management
- Demonstrable passion for, or commitment to, the work of CJO
- Good understanding of the charity sector’s regulatory frameworks and legislation.
- Experience of building positive working relationships and managing teams/performance.
- Good judgement and able to act decisively
- Collaborative, open and able to constructively challenge and inspire
- In-depth knowledge of managing family support and VAWG/GBV services that includes children and young people
- Experience of working in and managing organisational change and development
- Experience of working with consultants and contractors
- Demonstrable experience of working in the sector and understanding of the challenges of the African Heritage women and family
- Demonstrable experience of successful fundraising from a range of sources including trust and foundations and maintaining relationships.
- Substantial experience of budget management and financial accountability at £150K and above.
- Experience of managing a varied and demanding workload
- A credible and inspiring communicator and negotiator
DESIRABLE
- Experience of gaining quality marks for services.
- Experience of using case management systems.
- A good understanding of GDPR.
APPLICATION GUIDANCE
- Following the points above will assist you to demonstrate your suitability for the role and assist the panel in ensuring an accurate assessment of your application.
- Respond to each person specification point in order when completing your supporting statement
- Provide practical examples of how you meet the criteria where possible. Examples can be from paid / voluntary roles / your life experience.
HOW TO APPLY
Candidates are asked to submit:
- a CV of no more than 2 sides of A4, font size 12
- a Supporting Statement of no more than 3 sides of A4, font size 12
- Our completed Equality & Diversity Form
Closing Date & Time: 29th May 2026
Interview Date: Interviews are expected to take place in person On 08th June, 2026
If you have not received a response to your application within 21 days of the closing date you can assume your application has not been successful on this occasion.
Should you be successful, two satisfactory References from previous employers are required and an Enhanced DBS check.
CJO is an Equal Opportunities Employer.
All candidates must have the right to live and work in the UK.
We will only be able to contact shortlisted candidates.
Claudia Jones Organisation was established in 1982. Primarily the organisation supports and empowers women and families of African Caribbean heritage
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
We’re looking for a senior leader to join our Senior Management Team and take overall responsibility for the organisation’s operational core.
This is an exceptional opportunity to join a high-impact organisation as a key member of the Senior Management Team, working in close partnership with the Chief Executive to drive organisational excellence, sustainability, and transformation.
As Executive Director, Operations, you will sit at the heart of the organisation leading critical services and ensuring everything we do is underpinned by strong governance, robust finances, effective systems and an engaged, high-performing workforce. You’ll play a pivotal role in shaping strategy, enabling delivery, and ensuring we remain fit for the future.
This role requires a strategic leader who thrives on complexity, brings clarity to challenge, and is motivated by delivering meaningful impact.
What you’ll do
- Lead core corporate functions including Finance, HR, IT, Governance and Facilities
- Contribute to organisational strategy and decision-making as a member of the SMT
- Ensure strong financial oversight, planning and risk management
- Drive continuous improvement across systems, processes and services
- Support and develop high-performing teams and a positive organisational culture
What you’ll need
- Significant senior leadership experience in a complex organisation
- Expertise in one or more corporate service areas, with the ability to lead across a broad portfolio
- Strong financial understanding and confidence overseeing organisational performance
- A collaborative and inclusive leadership style, with the ability to influence at senior level
- Sound judgement, resilience, and the ability to manage complexity and competing priorities
You’ll join a collaborative and purpose-led leadership team, with the opportunity to shape how the organisation operates and grows. This is a role with real influence, where your leadership will directly enable delivery, improvement and long-term success. Please find out more from the candidate pack.
Why join us
- Make a difference to the lives of Doctors and medical specialties
- Hybrid working – up to 60% remote
- Modern working environment with home‑working equipment provided
- Generous annual leave, plus the option to buy up to 5 extra days
- Enhanced family‑friendly leave (maternity, paternity and adoption) for those with 2+ years continuous service
- Excellent pension scheme
- Sabbaticals (5+ years’ service) and secondment opportunities
- Interest‑free season ticket loan and cycle to work scheme
- Employee Assistance Programme
- Long service recognition awards
Why we’re needed
Across the UK, over 4 million children are currently living in poverty, driving increasing demand for essential items and support for families with young children. In 2024 alone, baby banks supported over 219,000 families, a 35% increase on the previous year.
And demand is outpacing supply. Many baby banks are being forced to turn families away.
Baby banks are community-led organisations that provide essential items such as clothing, nappies and equipment to families with young children experiencing poverty or crisis. They operate in diverse ways and often offer support and signposting in addition to the material goods, reflecting the needs of their local communities. Baby banks have grown rapidly over the past decade in response to rising levels of need. However, this growth has largely been organic and fragmented.
BBA exists to support, unite and advocate for baby banks: strengthening collective impact, unlocking national opportunities, and helping a fast-growing and diverse movement operate with greater voice, reach and resilience.
The Baby Bank Alliance (BBA) was co-founded by Purposeful Ventures, Save the Children UK, Little Village and the Bristol Baby Bank Network. Since its founding, BBA has built strong national partnerships, secured significant funding and goods for baby banks, and raised the profile of the sector through national media and corporate partnerships (including with organisations such as IKEA).
Currently incubated by Purposeful Ventures and Save the Children UK, BBA is now moving into its next phase: in Summer 2027 we will become an independent organisation and are on the journey to build the national recognition, scale and sustainability to meet growing need.
BBA continues to work closely with its co-founders and incubating partners, who are expected to remain important collaborators as the organisation transitions to independence.
The Opportunity
This is a rare opportunity to lead a high-impact organisation at a pivotal moment.
BBA’s achievements to date:
- A national member network of 256+ baby banks
- Current income of ~£1m, with clear ambition to grow significantly
- Grants of >£650k in unrestricted funding to members, with more to follow in Summer 2026
- Distribution of significant gift-in-kind: 13 electric vans; 326 laptops; >£400k worth of toiletries; hundreds of pieces of equipment like prams and high chairs; thousands of toys, nappies, and books
- National media coverage, including features in the Independent, a leading segment on ITV’s Good Morning Britain, plus coverage on BBC News, BBC Breakfast, the One Show, ITV Calendar News, Radio 5 Live, Times Radio and local BBC radio stations
- Confirmed and in-principle support commitments from key partners, including support expected through the current strategy period, providing a strong platform for growth
We are looking for a CEO who can:
- Secure major income and strategic partnerships
- Build BBA’s profile and credibility as the national voice of baby banks
- Lead the successful transition to independence and long-term sustainability
- Keep baby banks and the families they support at the heart of BBA’s work
Job Description
Initially, this role will be employed by Purposeful Ventures. Once BBA becomes independent, the CEO and other members of the BBA team will transfer to direct BBA employment under TUPE. Your terms and conditions of employment will remain unchanged.
What success looks like:
- Income growth: 50% increase in income by 2028, enabling increased funding to member baby banks and investment in BBA’s own capability and resilience.
- Public awareness: increased awareness of baby banks, driving stronger partnerships, broader public support and greater ability to unlock income and influence.
- Independence: a successful transition to an independent organisation in Summer 2027, retaining strong relationships with co-founders and incubating partners.
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Organisational leadership: a small but highly effective central team, operating in line with BBA’s principles and with the needs of baby banks at the heart of decision-making.
Purpose of the Role
The Chief Executive Officer will lead the Baby Bank Alliance through its transition to independence and into its next phase of growth.
This is a unique opportunity to shape a growing national organisation — building long-term sustainability, strengthening partnerships, and ensuring BBA can continue to support baby banks across the UK.
The role is externally focused, with a strong emphasis on growing income, building partnerships and raising BBA’s profile, alongside leading a small, committed team. Working closely with the co-founders and incubating partners, drawing on their expertise and networks, will remain crucial in the transition to independence and beyond.
Key Responsibilities
Fundraising & Income Growth
- Lead an ambitious approach to income growth, increasing and diversifying funding to support BBA’s long-term sustainability
- Build and secure high-value, multi-year partnerships across corporate, philanthropic and trust audiences
- Develop and manage a strong pipeline of opportunities, ensuring consistent progress from relationship-building to secured funding
- Oversee national funding and goods partnerships that unlock resources for baby banks at scale
Strategic Leadership & Independence
- Lead BBA’s transition from incubation to independence, shaping its future model, governance and direction
- Refine and deliver the organisation’s strategy, turning priorities into clear and achievable plans
- Ensure BBA has a clear and confident position within the child poverty and voluntary sector landscape
External Profile & Sector Leadership
- Build BBA’s reputation as the trusted national voice of baby banks
- Develop strong relationships with funders, partners, government and sector organisations
- Represent BBA externally, helping to grow awareness of baby banks and the role they play in supporting families
Governance & Board Partnership
- Work closely with the Chair and Board to ensure strong governance and accountability
- Support the Board’s development as BBA becomes independent
- Provide clear and useful insight to support good decision-making
Organisational Leadership & Delivery
- Provide clear, values-led leadership, creating a supportive and collaborative culture
- Work closely with the Exec Lead to ensure continuity and strong delivery during the transition period
- Put in place the systems, structures and ways of working needed for a growing organisation
Safeguarding, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Ensure safeguarding is appropriately embedded in BBA’s work, with clear oversight and proportionate approaches
- Champion equity, diversity and inclusion in how BBA works internally and supports baby banks across the UK
Financial Stewardship
- Hold overall responsibility for BBA’s financial sustainability
- Oversee budgeting, financial planning and resource allocation
- Ensure funds are used effectively to deliver the greatest possible impact
Person Specification
Essential Experience
- Senior leadership experience (CEO, Director or equivalent) within a charity or social impact organisation
- A strong track record of securing funding and building partnerships
- Experience of working with Boards and leading organisational growth or change
- Experience in child poverty, family support, community-based services, membership or network organisations, or closely related fields
Essential Skills & Attributes
- Strong strategic thinking with a practical, delivery-focused approach
- Confident and credible communicator, able to represent BBA externally
- Strong relationship builder, comfortable working across different stakeholders
- Strong financial acumen, with experience in leading budgeting, forecasting and strategic decision making
- Comfortable working in a developing organisation and able to bring structure, clarity and pace
- Collaborative, values-led leadership style
- Motivated by the impact of baby banks and the families they support
Desirable
- Experience of organisational spin-out or transition to independence
- Experience within a membership or network organisation
- Experience working in or alongside baby banks
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Over the past decade, our client has grown significantly with over £17m income targeted for 2026/2027 and a portfolio that reflects both scale and innovation. Founded in 2007 by King Charles III alongside a group of British Asian entrepreneurs and philanthropists, their ambition was to create a different kind of organisation, one that could combine entrepreneurial thinking, private sector partnerships and innovative finance to address poverty, inequality and injustice in South Asia.
They will now hire a new Executive Director, Fundraising and Communications, and Prospectus is leading the search.
Executive Director, Fundraising and Communications.
Permanent
£120,000
Hybrid with two days per week in the White City, West London office
Closing: Thursday 11th June 2026
The organisation are seeking a highly experienced senior leader who can drive forward the strategy across committed fundraising and communications teams and build a high-performing, insight-led function with clear accountability for income growth, focused on securing and scaling high-value funding across major donors, corporates, philanthropy and strategic partnerships. The postholder will be accountable for delivering and growing income against ambitious targets, with a particular focus on high-value and strategic funding streams. The postholder will lead a communications strategy that drives engagement, strengthens brand and directly supports fundraising and income generation.
The selected candidate will have a proven track record of securing and scaling high-value income, including major gifts, corporate partnerships and strategic funding relationships. You will be a self-start, a clear strategic thinker, and a pace-setter within an organisation growing and making enormous impact. Reporting to the Executive Director, you will work with trustees and other senior volunteers to enhance and drive forward high-level relationships for the organisation.
At Prospectus we invest in your journey as a candidate and are committed to supporting you with your application. We welcome candidates from a diverse range of backgrounds. Please let us know if we can help you with the application process in any way. We are more than happy to make any reasonable adjustments to enable all interested candidates to apply. If you have any disability and would like assistance with completing an application then please contact Ryan Burdock at Prospectus.
If you are interested in applying to this leadership position, please submit your CV in the first instance. Should your experience be suitable, we will send you the full job description and will arrange for a call and/or meeting to brief you on the role. You’ll then have all the information you need to formally apply. We are looking forward to connecting with you soon.
Kaleidoscope Health and Care is looking for a chief executive to lead our consultancy business into its next decade.
Hello, we're Kaleidoscope. We are a consultancy of a different kind. We bring people together to create change that works, and over the past decade, we've helped hundreds of organisations do harder things than they thought possible. Our founder is moving on this summer and we’re looking for the person to lead our next chapter - someone who understands that how you build matters as much as what you build. We're employee-owned, and committed to being the kind of organisation we help others become. That's not a tagline. It shapes how we work every day.
A bit about the role
This is not a caretaker role. Over the past decade we’ve built something truly special: a kind, commercially serious, employee-owned consultancy that does exceptional work in health and care.
This role combines strategic leadership of the organisation with hands-on responsibility for its commercial sustainability, culture, and external relationships. You'll work alongside a talented, committed team, in a self-managing organisation to build our consultancy business aligned to our purpose and values as an organisation.
The salary is £95,882 to £106,010. Our preference is for full-time, but we will consider part-time at 30+ hours / week.
A bit about you
You'll know health, care and the public sector. Not just as a sector to work in, but one you care about. You'll be comfortable with the commercial realities of running a consultancy - P&L, resource allocation, business development. And you'll have the kind of presence and credibility that makes clients want to work with you and colleagues want to follow you.
We welcome applications from people of all backgrounds. We particularly encourage applications from people who are underrepresented in senior health and care leadership.
The application deadline is 8am on Friday, 12 June 2026.
Get in touch with us…
If you need any reasonable adjustments for the application process or have any specific questions.
There's a full candidate pack available, and an Ask Me Anything session at midday (12.00pm BST) on Thursday 21 May, open to anyone considering applying.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Robertson Bell are partnering with a large and nationally recognised charitable organisation to recruit an experienced Finance Transformation Director to lead a major finance modernisation programme.
Following a comprehensive review of the finance function, the organisation is embarking on a significant 2-year transformation programme designed to move finance from a highly transactional environment to a more strategic, insight-led, and mission-focused function.
Operating within a highly complex organisation with revenues exceeding several hundred million pounds, this is a high-profile leadership opportunity to shape and deliver a complex programme spanning process improvement, systems simplification, reporting enhancement, automation, and cultural change.
The Opportunity
Reporting into the Executive leadership team, you will lead a large-scale transformation programme across several interconnected workstreams, helping to modernise finance operations and improve organisational effectiveness.
Key areas of focus will include:
- Leading a multi-stream finance transformation programme across process, systems, reporting, and operating model improvements
- Driving the shift from manual, transactional finance activities towards strategic analysis and insight
- Simplifying complex finance structures, processes, and reporting frameworks
- Improving automation and reporting capabilities to support better decision-making
- Managing a blended delivery team of internal staff, consultants, and interim resource
- Building strong stakeholder engagement and driving organisational buy-in across the transformation journey
- Supporting wider cultural change to align finance more closely with organisational mission and outcomes
The Successful Candidate
The successful candidate will bring a strong blend of senior finance leadership experience alongside demonstrable transformation and programme delivery expertise.
You will ideally have:
- A proven track record leading large-scale finance transformation programmes within the charity or wider not-for-profit sector
- Experience operating at CFO, Finance Director, or equivalent senior leadership level within organisations of comparable scale and complexity
- Experience working within large, multi-entity or operationally complex environments
- Strong programme management and organisational change capability
- Excellent stakeholder management and influencing skills, with the ability to build trust and credibility quickly
- A collaborative and emotionally intelligent leadership style
- The ability to operate effectively within complex and evolving environments
This role offers the opportunity to lead a highly visible 2-year transformation programme with genuine long-term organisational impact.
The role operates on a hybrid basis, with approximately two days per week in the office, although flexibility can be considered for the right individual. Candidates seeking day-rate opportunities are also encouraged to apply, as alternative engagement options can be discussed.
Our client is a leading healthcare charity working in close partnership with a major NHS Trust to support outstanding patient care across hospitals, clinics and community services serving more than 1.5 million people.
The organisation funds projects that go beyond statutory NHS funding, investing in world-class facilities, healthcare innovation and research, staff wellbeing, and a distinctive arts and design programme that transforms healthcare spaces.
The charity is also delivering an ambitious multi-year fundraising initiative, aiming to significantly grow its impact and long-term sustainability.
Director of Finance
Salary: £80,000–£85,000
Location: London (hybrid working available 2–3 days per week)
Our client is seeking an exceptional Director of Finance to safeguard financial integrity and resilience, and to provide the strategic insight needed to maximise impact in a complex and evolving healthcare environment.
Reporting to the Chief Executive and working closely with the Board of Trustees as a senior member of the SMT, you will lead financial strategy, planning and governance, ensuring the highest standards of stewardship, transparency and accountability.
You will oversee all aspects of financial leadership, support the administration and management of investment and property portfolios, and partner across the organisation to support innovation, fundraising and programme delivery through rigorous appraisal, modelling and decision support.
This is a hands-on, high-trust role at the heart of the organisation’s leadership, strengthening controls and insight, enabling disciplined resource allocation and supporting sustainable growth.
We are looking for a senior finance leader who brings:
• A professional accountancy qualification (ACA/ACCA/CIMA)
• Senior post-qualification experience at Head/Director level within the charity sector
• Experience of investment and property management, and managing restricted and unrestricted funds
• Confidence operating at Board/committee level, with strong stakeholder skills and the ability to challenge constructively
• A pragmatic, analytical and collaborative approach, with a commitment to the organisation’s purpose and values
How to Apply
Further information and details on how to apply are available via Prospectus.
Deadline for applications: Sunday 7 June 2026
Interviews with Prospectus: 11-17 June 2026
Interviews with client: w/c 22 June 2026
What does it take to lead the national voice for special schools at a time of real change?
Chief Executive Officer (CEO) – National Association of Special Schools (NASS)
National – home-based, with regular travel across England and Wales, particularly London
£90,000–£110,000 per annum
Full-time, permanent.
About NASS
The National Association of Special Schools (NASS) is the membership association for special schools in England and Wales. We bring together independent special schools, non-maintained special schools, special academies, maintained special schools and multi-academy trusts with specialist provision.
We exist to inform, support and represent our members, helping specialist schools improve outcomes for children and young people with SEND and secure the place of specialist provision within the wider education system. NASS is known for being accessible, responsive and personal, combining national influence with practical support that members value as timely, human and trustworthy.
This is a pivotal moment for the organisation. In February this year, the Department for Education published a major white paper on SEND reform which will require NASS to both influence national policy on behalf of our members and children and young people, as well as support them to navigate the changes. Our new CEO will need to review our strategy while building on our strong platform and momentum to further deepen our influence and strengthen our internal capacity.
As our next Chief Executive, you will:
- Strategy & Impact: Lead NASS through a period of policy and structural change, ensuring the organisation remains clear on purpose, responsive to members and influential in the SEND landscape.
- Governance & Finance: Work closely with the Board of Trustees to provide strong governance, prudent financial stewardship, robust risk management and clear strategic oversight.
- Operational Leadership: Provide confident leadership to a small, remote team, strengthening collaboration, accountability, resilience and a positive, high-trust culture.
- Income Generation: Oversee budgeting, planning and reporting while developing thoughtful opportunities to diversify income through membership, partnerships, events and related activity.
- Community & Partnerships: Build and sustain trusted relationships with government, parliament, regulators, sector bodies and member schools, ensuring NASS remains relevant and well connected.
- Member Services: Protect and enhance the practical offer to members, from briefings and special interest groups to conferences, webinars, training and peer-to-peer learning.
- Brand & Profile: Act as a credible public ambassador for NASS, helping to modernise communications and broaden the organisation’s voice beyond a founder-shaped model.
- Future Growth: Shape a distributed leadership profile and support a more varied, accessible and engaging approach to membership, advocacy and communications.
- A seasoned senior leader with experience in a charity, membership body, education or public sector setting, and a clear track record of leading through change.
- A strong strategic thinker, able to absorb complex information quickly and translate it into clear, practical direction.
- A confident communicator with the gravitas to represent NASS with members, staff, trustees, MPs, peers, media and national partners.
- A politically astute relationship-builder, comfortable navigating a complex and fast-moving external environment.
- Experienced in governance, with a sound understanding of working with boards or trustees and supporting effective decision-making.
- Numerate and commercially minded, with experience of budgets, financial planning, income generation or partnership development.
- Credible, approachable and resilient, with the emotional intelligence to lead well in a high-profile, remote and sometimes uncertain context.
- Direct SEND experience would be a significant advantage, alongside understanding of specialist education or similarly complex stakeholder environments.
Why NASS?
- This is a chance to lead a respected, member-led organisation with a strong national reputation and a clear public purpose.
- You will help shape the future of specialist education at a time when SEND reform is high on the agenda.
- NASS has a loyal, experienced and collegiate remote staff team, supported by an active Board of Trustees.
- The organisation offers a genuinely influential platform, with strong connections across the sector and with government.
Application
For full details of the role including how to apply, please download the full appointment brief. For an informal and confidential conversation about this position, please contact Jenny Hills at Harris Hill via apply button with times to speak and (optional but appreciated) a CV or professional profile which will be treated with the strictest confidence.
Closing date for applications: 9am, Monday 8th June 2026
As leading charity recruitment specialists and a certified B Corp, Harris Hill is committed to high and ever-improving standards of equitable and inclusive recruitment. We actively welcome applications from all sections of the community regardless of age, disability, gender, race, religion, sexuality and other protected characteristics.
Using Anonymous Recruitment
This organisation is using Anonymous Recruitment to reduce bias in the first stages of the hiring process. Submit your application as normal and our system will anonymise it for you. Your personal information will be hidden until the recruiter contacts you.
Release Counselling and Therapy for Women is entering an exciting new chapter.
Founded in Brighton and Hove in 2013, Release has grown from a small local charity into a financially robust organisation with a growing national reach. Under the leadership of our outgoing CEO, the charity has been transformed—moving from a challenging financial position to one with strong reserves, clear sustainability, and ambitious plans for growth.
We now provide affordable 1:1 online counselling to women across the UK, alongside specialist group programmes supporting maternal mental health and key life transitions. One-to-one counselling is a core offer and a vital income stream, enabling us to extend our reach while staying true to our values.
This period has also seen Release grow to working with over 20 dedicated volunteer counsellors, strengthening our capacity and community impact.
As our CEO steps down, Release is ready for its next phase—building on strong foundations, amplifying our national impact, and remaining firmly rooted in our purpose: being a charity that supports women’s mental health, run by women, for women.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
This is an exciting opportunity to lead one of the most distinctive and high-performing music, culture and arts organisations in England.
Newham Music is seeking an exceptional Chief Executive to lead the organisation through its next phase of development. The CEO will provide overall strategic, operational and cultural leadership, working closely with the Board of Trustees and senior team to ensure that Newham Music continues to deliver excellent work, strong partnerships, sound governance and long-term organisational resilience.
This is a substantial and visible leadership role. The successful candidate will need to lead confidently across strategy, people, finance, governance, safeguarding, partnerships and external representation. They will also need to combine public and cultural leadership with a clear understanding of organisational performance, financial discipline and delivery.
The incoming CEO will inherit an organisation with strong foundations, a respected reputation and significant reach across schools, communities and the wider cultural sector. They will also take on a live strategic brief. Key priorities will include sustaining trust and quality across the organisation, leading Newham Music’s positioning for the next Arts Council England investment cycle, strengthening long-term resilience, and developing a more diversified income base alongside public investment.
A central part of the role will be to lead Newham Music within a multi-income model. The successful candidate will need to show confidence in managing a mixed financial ecology that includes public grant funding, earned income, fundraising, sponsorship and wider partnership investment. They will be expected not only to protect existing income but to grow and diversify it.
This is a role for a leader who can think strategically, act decisively, build strong relationships and lead with credibility across multiple settings. The right candidate will understand how to balance ambition with judgement, public purpose with financial realism, and artistic and educational values with strong organisational performance.
We recognise that relatively few candidates will have direct senior experience of both the Music Hub model and the Arts Council England NPO framework. We do not require it. What we are looking for is the curiosity and capacity to understand both frameworks quickly, the leadership experience to operate confidently within them, and the credibility to represent Newham Music effectively to ACE, DfE, schools, funders and communities.
If you have senior leadership experience in the charity, arts or publicly funded sector, within a mission-led organisation with a mixed income model and strong governance requirements, you have the foundations for this role. We will provide full briefing on both investment frameworks as part of the recruitment process, and transition support is designed to ensure the incoming CEO is fully equipped from day one.
The client requests no contact from agencies or media sales.
Help shape financial decision-making at one of the UK’s leading universities
King’s is a large, complex and internationally engaged university with ambitious plans for the years ahead. We are looking for an experienced finance leader to join us as Deputy Director of Finance Business Partnering (Operations), playing a key role in strengthening financial performance, decision-making and long-term sustainability across our Professional Services directorates.
This is an exciting opportunity for someone who wants to make a real impact. You will be part of our Financial Strategy, Planning and Performance function, helping King’s maintain the sustainable financial foundation needed to support our education, research and wider contribution to society.
The role
Reporting to the Director of Finance Business Partnering (Operations), you will lead high-quality finance business partnering services across a range of Professional Services areas, including Student Services, IT, Philanthropy and Alumni, Executive portfolios and other directorates.
You will directly line manage a team of Finance Business Partners and their Management Accountant teams, with overall responsibility for a team of around eight people, including three direct reports. You will also play a substantial leadership role across the wider Operations Finance Business Partnering team, supporting a team of around 19 colleagues.
This is a hands-on senior leadership role. You will work closely with senior stakeholders, providing expert advice, constructive challenge, analysis and timely decision support. You will help ensure financial plans are robust, risks and opportunities are understood, and resources are aligned with King’s strategic priorities.
What you will be doing
You will model excellent finance business partnering, using high-quality data and insight to support leaders across King’s Professional Services and Operations directorates. You will help stakeholders understand financial performance, make evidence-based decisions and identify opportunities to improve efficiency, value for money and long-term financial resilience.
Key responsibilities will include:
- Leading the delivery of finance business partnering across multiple Professional Services areas.
- Providing strategic financial advice, scenario modelling and long-term forecasting to support decision-making.
- Leading and supporting annual planning, monthly reporting, quarterly updates and forecasting processes.
- Developing clear, robust reporting and commentary for senior stakeholders, including Executive-level audiences.
- Supporting business cases, complex financial issues and cross-cutting initiatives.
- Ensuring income and expenditure are recorded correctly and that management accounts provide meaningful insight.
- Promoting compliance with financial policies, controls, data protection and secure use of financial information.
- Championing improvements to reporting, tools, dashboards, templates and processes.
- Supporting the Director in leading the Operations Finance Business Partnering team, including culture, priorities, development and ways of working.
- Deputising for the Director when required.
About you
We are looking for a qualified accountant with significant experience of leading financial advice, planning, forecasting and reporting services in a large, complex organisation.
You will bring strong leadership skills, a service-focused approach and the ability to develop high-performing teams. You will be comfortable operating in complex stakeholder environments, managing competing priorities and influencing senior leaders with clarity, confidence and credibility.
You will be someone who can combine technical financial expertise with sound judgement, strong relationship-building skills and a commitment to continuous improvement.
You will need to bring
- A professional accountancy qualification.
- Experience of leading financial support, advice or business partnering services relevant to this role.
- Strong leadership skills, including the ability to manage and develop professional staff.
- Experience of leading short- and long-term planning, forecasting and reporting processes.
- The ability to deliver change and financial improvement across a finance function and wider organisation.
- Resilience and the ability to manage multiple objectives across teams and complex stakeholder groups.
- Excellent written and verbal communication skills, including the ability to present clearly to senior stakeholders and committees.
- Strong numeracy and IT skills, including Excel and experience using corporate finance and reporting systems.
A degree-level qualification and experience of working in or with the university sector would be advantageous, but are not essential.
Why join King’s?
This role offers the chance to help shape a step change in finance business partnering at King’s. You will be joining at a time when the team is embedding a refreshed business partnering offer, improving reporting and forecasting tools, strengthening stakeholder support and building financial capability across the organisation.
You will have the opportunity to work on high-profile priorities, influence senior decision-making and contribute to financial sustainability across a university with a powerful mission in education, research and service to society.
How to apply
To apply, please send your CV by 25th May 2026.
For an informal conversation about the role, please contact Phil Southern at Ivy Rock Partners.
The organisation
I am recruiting for a mission-led organisation with an income of c.£8m, operating across the UK as part of a wider international network. The organisation works within a complex, multi-stakeholder environment and is entering an exciting period of transformation. With an ambitious 10-year strategy in place, there is a clear focus on strengthening financial sustainability, evolving funding models and enhancing digital capability. The organisation also operates with a wholly owned commercial subsidiary, supporting a diversified income base and enabling growth through a range of revenue-generating activities.
The Job
This is a senior leadership role, sitting on the Senior Management Team and playing a key part in delivering long-term strategic objectives. You will lead both the Finance and IT functions (total team of 6 with 2 direct reports), ensuring the organisation is financially robust, operationally effective and supported by modern, secure technology.
- Leading the development and delivery of the long-term financial strategy
- Ensuring strong financial control, governance and risk management
- Overseeing budgeting, forecasting, reporting and audit processes
- Managing the relationship with the organisation's wholly owned trading subsidiary
- Supporting the development of new and sustainable funding models
- Leading the IT and digital strategy to improve systems, insight and operational efficiency
- Strengthening cyber security and organisational resilience
- Providing clear and insightful financial reporting to senior leadership and the Board
- Building effective relationships across an international network of stakeholders
The person
We are seeking a commercially minded and values-led finance leader who is comfortable operating in a complex and evolving environment.
- A recognised accounting qualification such as ACA, ACCA or CIMA
- Significant experience operating at a senior level within a finance function
- A track record of developing and delivering financial strategy
- Strong technical knowledge across financial control, reporting and compliance
- Experience of working within organisations with diverse income streams
- Understanding of trading subsidiaries and group structures
- Exposure to overseeing IT or digital functions at a strategic level
- Strong stakeholder management skills with the ability to influence at Board level
- A collaborative leadership style and clear communication skills
What's in it for you
- Salary of £80,000 with some flexibility for the right candidate
- Matched pension contribution up to 4%, increasing to 5% after 2 years and 7% after 4 years
- 25 days annual leave plus bank holidays
- 35 hour working week with flexible working arrangements
- Hybrid working - minimum 1 day per week in the office
- The opportunity to play a key role in shaping strategy and driving change
- A collaborative and purpose driven working environment
Please apply ASAP if you would like to be considered! Interviews are currently being organised.
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Founded in 1865, and established by Royal Charter, the Royal Alfred is a much respected and widely known Maritime Charity based in Surrey providing a Nursing Care Home and affordable Housing for former seafarers and their dependents. Due to the impending retirement of the current Chief Executive Officer, they are seeking a dynamic individual to take on this exciting opportunity to build upon recent achievements and to meet the challenge of maintaining a first-class service to the Society's beneficiaries.
To £85 000 + bens
Surrey - Hybrid
The post requires a committed, well-motivated individual with excellent communication skills, able to absorb responsibility yet delegate to an established and talented team of senior managers. Training, where applicable, will be provided, particularly for registration as the Nominated Individual. The post also takes responsibility for Finance, and thus an understanding of financial procedures and budgetary control will be essential.
Reporting to the Chair, other duties will include;
● As the Nominated Individual, supervise the management of the Care Home (Belvedere House), together with Housing, ensuring the highest standards of delivery possible are being achieved.
● Representing the interests of the Society within the wider Maritime Charity and Care sectors as necessary.
● Ensuring that the Strategic Plan and all Policies laid down by the Society are implemented and adhered to.
● Ensuring that all legal, statutory, governance, and best practice guidelines are adhered to.
● Overseeing grant application planning, submission and implementation, including identifying resource requirements and submitting proposals.
Who are we looking for?
The nature of the Charity defines that a candidate with some maritime experience in a leadership role would be an advantage but is not essential. Previous experience in the care sector or some experience in regulated environments is also desirable
The successful candidate will have proven experience as a senior manager, and will be an effective leader, with a willingness to learn then apply knowledge of Care Services as the legally Nominated Individual. The chosen candidate will require DBS certification for work with vulnerable adults.
The closing date for applications will be Monday 18th May. Any direct applications will be forwarded to our retained consultant, Simon Bell at Adjacency Executive Search.